1981 XS1100 Midnight Special Restoration - Pic Heavy

Ok here we go...

6 months ago I purchased this 81 XS...












As you can see I have my hands full with this one.....

Up until a couple of days ago all I had managed to do was remove the carbs (& ruined 1 carb body), seat and tank.

In the last couple of nights after work I've managed to remove a few more bits...














Plan of attack is to crank up my sandblaster and cleanup a pile of small parts ready for painting. Remove everything off the frame & swingarm, strip back to bare metal ready for painting.

Hopefully I'll get a bit of spraying in over the next few weeks before autumn and then winter roll around.

She's going to be a slow rebuild from the look of my budget... I already have the paint and equipment so I'm tackling the easy wins first.

I'll throw up some more images as I go...

8)

 

Hey Alive, jack up the cluster & drive a new bike under it. :lol:

 

That salt air has taken it's toll on it for sure!
Shame about the header.
Just finished replacing the carb boots on my 79 XS1100 tonight.

 

But the cluster's rusty too

:lol:

I'd be really happy if it even came close to looking as good as that quacker you're working on right now.

Where'd you get your new ones from? $90USD is about as good as I can find and with the exchange rate being crap right now, I doubt I'll be importing too many parts this year.

 

Found a set on Ebay with gaskets for just under $88 delievered.

 

Alot of work for sure. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

Too bad the exhaust is wasted. I have had a Mac 4 into 2 on order for a few months now for my 1100. What are going to go with?

 

Too early to tell yet.... I do like the Mac 4 in to 2 but cost is too high right now and It's probably going to be one of the last things I get unless something suitable comes along at the right price in the meantime

 

Tonight I rolled her on her side and got the oil filter off as well as removed the last of the wiring and undid the swingarm universal.

Tomorrow the motor comes out, wheels forks and triple clamps off.

It's a long weekend here this weekend so I'm hoping to get a box full of parts sand blasted and make a start on preping the frame so they're ready for painting before I return to work on Tuesday.

Have another long weekend the following week with the Friday off so hopefully I'll be spraying then.

 

A long weekend huh? Are you folks in New Zealand celebrating Martin Luther King's birthday late or are you celebrating the US inaugaration on New Zealand time????

 

Contrary to popular belief the world does not revolve around the good ol US of A 8)

This weekend is a regional anniversary in my area and the following is Waitangi Day.... To celebrate the day the crown signed a treaty with Maori.

 

Hi Alive, we have Australia day on the 26th, have you got NZ day?

 

every day here is America day, god i love being an American

 

It's Auckland Anniversary on the 26th. We don't have an NZ Day.

Hahahha God save the Queen :lol:

 

Buckle in there Schooter, you're in for a sharp ride. :roll:

 

awww hell no Obama's gonna fix all our problems, Obama is great, Obama!
Is it ironic that obamas name is hussain, like saddam hussain, and last name rhymes with osama... i heard obama changed his name, it was Hitler Hussain Osama...

 

Work today came to a screaming halt when I ripped a hole in my finger while making a new bracket for a cot for my son.

Couple of hours and the hosp & 6 stitches in my left index finger and I was back in the garage but plans have changed.

No way I'm going to be able to pull this frame off this motor one handed

Might still be able to get front and rear end off though Might look at that tomorrow.

 

Sorry to hear hope you heal fast so you can get back on it.

 

6 stiches- - OUCH ! Using your hand as a drill press??

Suggest to sand blast steel parts, but baking soda blast all aluminium.

I'm building a cabinet from scraps big enough to hold an engine, particle board, a piece of glass. What to make the arm gaiters from?

 

My cabinet has a pair of heavy duty rubber gloves (green) and a big set of hose clamps hold them on.